Eight and Beyond!

Eevee continued to watch. Claire soon woke up and stretched. Seeing her pokemon was missing, she had a feeling that Eevee was with Jay.

JayJay began to wonder about some things. He decided to go see his father and ask about depositing some Pokemon and picking up a few

Claire passed by Jay as she went to retrieve her tiny Eevee. She greeted him and then continued on.

JayJay smiled to her then kept training

Claire took her Eevee into her arms. "You little nut. You shouldn't run away like that." She petted her pokemon gently and then headed back inside.

JayJay decided that he would keep Typhlosion, Arcanine, and Heracross, then get his Charmander, Onix and Hunter from his father, depositng his Tyranitar, Snolax and Venusaur after they got all 8 Kanto Badges. He wasn't sure what Claire's plans were, but he wanted all 16 Badges from the two regions before he would climb Mt Silver and Challenge Hans. He was sad all of a sudden. The thought of he and Claire diverging paths made him very melancholy and he suddenly stopped training

Claire went back inside and pulled her journal from her bag. She had some catching up to do in it. Reflecting back through the pages, she honestly wondered what would happen after the journey was over.

JayJay stopped and sat down
He had been so caught up with Team Rocket and Claire being gone and not gone all at the same time that he never stopped to think about what he would do if she were gone for good


Typhlosion walked over to JayJay, confused

Claire wrote in her journal,

These last few weeks have been a fantastic journey, but I can't help but wonder what should happen at the end of this battle to gain all the badges of Kanto. I'm sure JayJay wishes to pursue more in his home in Johto, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that. No, maybe not yet. I'm just not sure.

After defeating the Rockets some time ago, I've come to learn that not everything is as it seems. But, I've only just recently wondered if there's a reason why we've come together at this time and have come to understand that we have the gift to sense one another. Is it truly possible or is it just my own imagination? Surely, Professor Oak is not lying. I do not believe he is.

I often wonder what Jay thinks. I just cannot bring myself to ask him. I'm afraid to hurt him, honestly.

She left her journal open as she went to walk outside a bit.

JayJay had recalled his whole team, aside from Typhlosion. He began to walk along Route One

Claire paced around a bit and eventually found a soft spot in the grass to lay back. Thoughts raced in her mind from her journal entry. She knew she'd need to make her decision soon.

And before the battle against the Elite Four.

JayJay kept walking until he decided that he really needed to think

Claire soon went back inside and found that she left her journal open. Closing it, she sorted through her things to pass time.

JayJay sat and thought about Claire, and their adventure, and how wonderful a friend she was. He just didn't understand why she was so nice to him, he hadn't done anything for her other than nearly get her killed. He reminded himself of his foolish pride, and how everything played out. He felt his new scars, then realized that he didn't mind them. He got them with Claire and that was what mattered to him. She was his best friend and he wanted to go wherever she decided to go after Kanto, assuming she wanted him to come along. He didn't know what he'd do if she said no, but he felt she deserved to know how important she was. JayJay got up and nodded to Typhlosion, who nodded back, already knowing what JayJay was thinking. He made his way back to Pallet town and headed for the lab

To Claire, Jay was like an older brother she never had and always wanted. She wanted the best for him, but she also had family problems to sort out. She felt she was needed at home more than on the journey. Claire truly had felt close to JayJay, and letting him go was something she couldn't do easily if she even tried. She wanted time to ask him what he thought.

JayJay made his way into the lab and called for Claire. He was nervous and shaking a little

Claire heard Jay's call and made her way into the main room. "You called?" she asked.

"I have something I need to tell you, Claire . . ." JayJay said

Claire could catch a hint of nervousness in his voice and responded, "What's wrong?"

"I've decided something, but I don't know what you'll think. You deserve to know though . . . I want to be wherever you are. I don't want to go on with our adventure if you don't want to go any farther. I'd be happy just picking a place to live and staying there the rest of my days getting to be your friend. You've shown me what it means to have a friend" JayJay finished. He was very nervous and he had to hold his arms still behind his back

Claire was unsure how to comment to his statement. She was a bit shocked and didn't expect the topic to arise about after the journey. "Listen," she said, "Whatever happens from here on out, I want you to continue in your dreams. Whether or not I choose to continue after this is over shouldn't stop you there. I'm still deciding what I'll do after we complete our journey. But don't let me hold you back."

JayJay bit his tongue, then nodded with a small smile and headed to the kitchen

Claire didn't know what else to say and went back to the spare room.

Maybe I should make my decision a bit sooner than I planned, she thought.

JayJay made a sandwich and sat down on the couch to eat. He turned on the news

Claire had a bit of a wish to get back home after the journey to her younger sister. She wanted to move away from Vermillion and her mother to teach her sibling how to be a Pokemon trainer. She had two choices at this point. Complete the journey and go to Johto, or go back home after it was all over.